Help with choosing a new graphics card please

2006-03-24 00:03:37

#1

one-shot-needed: Member; +0|6908

I built my own PC
P4 3.06Ghz
1Gb of Twinmos RAM
600gb of Hard drive space
Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS
Creative inspire T7900 7.1 speakers
GeForce FX Ultra 5600 256mb Graphics Card
The motherboard is AGP 8x not PCI-e

I made the mistake the other day of changing the video settings. I have been running the game for about 3-4 weeks now and had all the settings on low and a resolution of 800x600. The game was running very fast and there was no lag or frame drops.

If I try medium or high settings the game becomes unplayable - although the increase in graphic details is something I don't want to miss out on. The same goes for higher resolutions.

I have set everything back to the minimum and am slowly changing settings one by one from low to medium and then playing the game to see what performance issues arise.

I think I need to just bite the bullet and get a new graphics card, but not sure which one to go for.

Any help would be most appreciated.

2006-03-24 00:21:09

#2

Sambuccashake: Member; +126|6901|Sweden

EDIT:
Didn't read the specs well enough and I don't think the 7800GTX works on AGP.

Sorry.

//Jensa

Last edited by Sambuccashake (2006-03-24 01:07:16)

2006-03-24 00:28:57

#3

JimKong: Member; +31|6933|Ohio

I have a GeForce 6600 and run at 1280x1024. I suggest waiting a few months until the 7800/7900 drops in price.

Do they even make an AGP 7800?

2006-03-24 00:33:13

#4

Silver18: Member; +10|6916

Depending on your budget ide go for a 6600GT or a 9800XT/Pro

2006-03-24 01:28:46

#5

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7007

JimKong wrote:
I have a GeForce 6600 and run at 1280x1024. I suggest waiting a few months until the 7800/7900 drops in price.

Do they even make an AGP 7800?

yes... 7800gs

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2006-03-24 03:47:43

#6

rindfisch: Member; +0|6911

JimKong wrote:
I have a GeForce 6600 and run at 1280x1024. I suggest waiting a few months until the 7800/7900 drops in price.

Do they even make an AGP 7800?

for real...i had the same card among with a amd x2 3800 , 1gb ram.....and the game was only playable on my computer on the lowest settings----

bye the way a gf 6800 (gs/gt/ultra) can be intresting for you too....u can get them on egay for cheap i paid 140 $ for mine...

2006-03-24 03:58:27

#7

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|6911|Mhz

In simple words, wait. Nothing currently released supports HDCP so wait, wait and wait again, otherwise it'll be pretty much defunct when Vista and all its sexy HDCP protcted contect is released

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati … p_support/

2006-03-24 05:49:54

#8

BUDFORCE: Moderator Emeritus; +76|7063|London UK

That was an interesting article.

I myself bought a varly expensive gaming machine in december 05. But what you have to realise is that all technology, especially in computers, becomes outdated quickly.

While I would probably hold off buying a new machine at the present time, a few hundred quid for a new GFX card so he can play BF2 properly for a while, wouldnt be a such a waste of money as that article makes it out to be.

2006-03-24 05:54:52

#9

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|6911|Mhz

your right anything you buy whenever you buy it is going to be out dated within months, but with vista coming out and a plethora of new technologies, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray and all the other crap that comes about with Vista's release there gonna be a massive change in hardware. Personally I wont be buying anything til a while after Vista is out and been tested in open use, get a much better idea of whats hot and whats hype that way.

2006-03-24 06:03:44

#10

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|6921|Washington, DC

Get a cheap AGP video card, then next year when DX10 and AM2 become the norm upgrade entirely.

2006-03-24 08:03:33

#11

atlvolunteer: PKMMMMMMMMMM; +27|7062|Atlanta, GA USA

You can get a 6800GS AGP for about $225 from Newegg. I just bought an eVGA 6800GS (PCIe), and it is pretty damn good for the money. Most of them are OCed.
Eternal Pessimist: IMO, by the time Vista has become mainstream, he is probably going to need a new system anyway (at least new mobo and cpu), so he might as well buy a decent card now so he can play the game at decent resolution...

2006-03-24 08:12:33

#12

TheEternalPessimist: Wibble; +412|6911|Mhz

vistas probably going to be mainstream among gamers pretty much from the off... look at the upcoming content, its nearly all going to be HD games to keep up with consoles and you cant play anything remotely HD related on any current windows platform, you either go with Vista or buy an xbox 360.

2006-03-24 08:23:20

#13

atlvolunteer: PKMMMMMMMMMM; +27|7062|Atlanta, GA USA

I went to eVGA's website and did a search for H.264, and found this:
http://www.evga.com/articles/282.asp
According to that, they now have some video cards that support HDCP. (I think that is what it says among all of the marketing bs). They are all based on 7900 or 7600 GPUs though.
Edit: I also went on Newegg and found some other 7900 cards that list H.264 support under features:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814150143
So it looks like they are out there now if you want to pay for them...
Edit2: Haha actually the 7900GTX video cards aren't going to be released until the end of the month it looks like...

Last edited by atlvolunteer (2006-03-24 08:33:15)

2006-03-24 08:54:07

#14

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7007

atlvolunteer wrote:
I went to eVGA's website and did a search for H.264, and found this:
http://www.evga.com/articles/282.asp
According to that, they now have some video cards that support HDCP. (I think that is what it says among all of the marketing bs). They are all based on 7900 or 7600 GPUs though.
Edit: I also went on Newegg and found some other 7900 cards that list H.264 support under features:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814150143
So it looks like they are out there now if you want to pay for them...
Edit2: Haha actually the 7900GTX video cards aren't going to be released until the end of the month it looks like...

the 7900gtx is released... but not on newegg yet

2006-03-24 09:20:59

#15

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,057|7063|PNW

BFG Tech has a 7800GS 256MB AGP running for ~$300, but for your system, grab a BFG Tech 6800GT 256MB AGP for ~$250, or a BFG Tech 6600GT 256MB AGP for ~$180. Any of the 6000 series would be sufficient to tide you over until you want to build a new system altogether.

Or you can just get an XFX 6600GT, as previously mentioned, for $130 at Newegg. I just prefer BFG because of their 24/7 support and lifetime warranty, even with overclocked cards.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-03-24 09:22:12)

2006-03-24 13:02:54

#16

Lib-Sl@yer: Member; +32|7004|Wherever the F**k i feel like

WAIT or at least i would. im waiting until the cards come out that will actually work with windows vista, because none of the cards now will work with it

2006-03-24 13:18:46

#17

Impaqt: Member; +37|6929|Chicago, Il

Lib-Sl@yer wrote:
WAIT or at least i would. im waiting until the cards come out that will actually work with windows vista, because none of the cards now will work with it

What Are you talking about? I've been alpha and beta testing Vista for months with everything from a ATI 9250 to my Dual 6800GS's They work just fine.

Plus Vista isnt going to be released anytime soon....... Major shake up today..... We've got a Year at this point....

6800GS is decent... But I would look for a 6800Ultra AGP(Proboblyhave to get this 2nd hand)........... Or 7800GS Both Better cards.

ANyone who thinks your going to need a new Video card, 2+ Gigs of Ram and a $500 CPU to run Vista needs to have their head examined...... Do you really think Microsoft would Not want 80%+ of their customer base to upgrade?

I've got Vista running on a 2.4Ghz P4 (Non HT) with 512mb of Ram with that 9250 video card right now..... Not speedy, but surfs the web just fine with IE7.

2006-03-24 14:32:56

#18

Lib-Sl@yer: Member; +32|7004|Wherever the F**k i feel like

Impaqt wrote:
Lib-Sl@yer wrote:
WAIT or at least i would. im waiting until the cards come out that will actually work with windows vista, because none of the cards now will work with it
What Are you talking about? I've been alpha and beta testing Vista for months with everything from a ATI 9250 to my Dual 6800GS's They work just fine.

Plus Vista isnt going to be released anytime soon....... Major shake up today..... We've got a Year at this point....

6800GS is decent... But I would look for a 6800Ultra AGP(Proboblyhave to get this 2nd hand)........... Or 7800GS Both Better cards.

ANyone who thinks your going to need a new Video card, 2+ Gigs of Ram and a $500 CPU to run Vista needs to have their head examined...... Do you really think Microsoft would Not want 80%+ of their customer base to upgrade?

I've got Vista running on a 2.4Ghz P4 (Non HT) with 512mb of Ram with that 9250 video card right now..... Not speedy, but surfs the web just fine with IE7.

It will be able to run it BUT its not fully compatible and want be able to run it at windows vistas full potential check ur fact

2006-03-24 16:04:30

#19

.ACB|_Cutthroat1: No place like 127.0.0.1; +76|6987|Gold Coast,QLD,Australia

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:
atlvolunteer wrote:
I went to eVGA's website and did a search for H.264, and found this:
http://www.evga.com/articles/282.asp
According to that, they now have some video cards that support HDCP. (I think that is what it says among all of the marketing bs). They are all based on 7900 or 7600 GPUs though.
Edit: I also went on Newegg and found some other 7900 cards that list H.264 support under features:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814150143
So it looks like they are out there now if you want to pay for them...
Edit2: Haha actually the 7900GTX video cards aren't going to be released until the end of the month it looks like...
the 7900gtx is released... but not on newegg yet

stupid yanks(), i got mine

2006-03-24 16:58:51

#20

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,057|7063|PNW

No, with a system like the one mentioned by the OP, do NOT wait for the new graphics cards. It would be a waste, and completely incompatible with the setup at hand.

Of course, if you can project having the spare cash to buy a computer within the next year (if you're in the same situation), then by all means save up.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-03-24 16:59:56)

2006-03-24 21:19:39

#21

Tushers: Noctwisaskfirtush; +224|6976|Some where huntin in Wisconsin

I will be hopfuly be getting my new compy I orderd a week ago it will be so nice. i orderd a special AlienWare frame
560 watt power supply
7900 sli
2 gb or ram
10,000 rpm raptor 512 mb hard drive
dual core processor
Athlon 64 3500
sound blaster audgity (somthing like dat i don't have the spec wit me right now)
3 peice speaker sub
back light key board and 5 button mouse
I don't know what kind of mother board i will be getting yet they said they would call me before they where done to ask.

it cost me 4300 about all my money from McDonald's 5 months of saving lol

(P.S. i quit right after i made 5,000 dollars i made somewhat good money 2) but i still have dial up.....'
i gotta go to bed peace

Last edited by Tushers (2006-03-24 21:23:42)

2006-03-24 21:24:59

#22

Lib-Sl@yer: Member; +32|7004|Wherever the F**k i feel like

Tushers wrote:
I will be hopfuly be getting my new compy I orderd a week ago it will be so nice. i orderd a special AlienWare frame
560 watt power supply
7900 sli
2 gb or ram
10,000 rpm raptor 512 mb hard drive
dual core processor
Athlon 64 3500
sound blaster audgity (somthing like dat i don't have the spec wit me right now)
3 peice speaker sub
back light key board and 5 button mouse
I don't know what kind of mother board i will be getting yet they said they would call me before they where done to ask.

it cost me 4300 about all my money from McDonald's 5 months of saving lol

(P.S. i quit right after i made 5,000 dollars i made somewhat good money 2) but i still have dial up.....'
i gotta go to bed peace

Ya for da hard drive i hope u mean 512mb cache and not space..............

2006-03-24 21:28:40

#23

.ACB|_Cutthroat1: No place like 127.0.0.1; +76|6987|Gold Coast,QLD,Australia

roflmfao 512mb cache, no such thing, why pay so much fr a comp like tha when you only ahve dialup

2006-03-24 21:40:37

#24

Lib-Sl@yer: Member; +32|7004|Wherever the F**k i feel like

sry i was thinking of something else been distracted cause of sound issues

2006-03-24 21:53:53

#25

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,057|7063|PNW

.ACB|_Cutthroat1 wrote:
roflmfao 512mb cache, no such thing, why pay so much fr a comp like tha when you only ahve dialup

But you know, wouldn't it be awesome to have a 2.5TB SATA-600 15K (if such RPMs would be eventually possible for SATA) drive with even 24 or 32MB cache?

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-03-24 21:54:39)

BF2S Forums Help with choosing a new graphics card please

JimKong wrote:

JimKong wrote:

atlvolunteer wrote:

Lib-Sl@yer wrote:

Impaqt wrote:

Lib-Sl@yer wrote:

cyborg_ninja-117 wrote:

atlvolunteer wrote:

Tushers wrote:

.ACB|_Cutthroat1 wrote:

Board footer